Laura Davis

  • Home
  • About
    • Books
  • Online Classes
  • Prompts
    • Writer’s Journey Roadmap
  • Writing Retreats
  • Blog
    • Laura’s Blog
    • The Virtual Vacation
    • Featured Students
  • Contact
  • My Account

Sign up to hear from Laura today and receive the Writer's Journey Roadmap.
Free writing prompts and inspiration sent to your inbox every week.

Virtual Vacation: Peru

In which Laura and Karyn and 18 writers explore Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of Peru.

Peru Here We Come

October 13, 2017 By Laura Davis 8 Comments · · · · · · Read & Respond

Tomorrow morning, Karyn and I fly to Mexico City and then to Lima and then to Cusco. We’ll stumble off the airplane at 11,000 feet and be greeted by a driver holding a sign with our names on it. An hour and a half later, we’ll arrive by van at Sach’a Munay, our home for the first ten days we’re in the Sacred Valley. Karyn and I are flying in early to acclimate and to meet our True Nature tour guide, Brenda. Brenda will introduce us to the Sacred Valley and the three of us will get everything in readiness to welcome 18 travelers—arriving from all over—next week. Brenda will be our guide to Peru. Karyn will teach the yoga and I’ll be the writing instructor. I love being part of a team. But even though my bags are already packed, even though I’ve already started taking chlorophyll to ... [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

Last Words Before Travel

October 13, 2017 By Laura Davis No Comments - Read & Respond

Every week for the past 8 weeks, I’ve been sending our Peru travelers an email for information warming them up for next week’s trip. Here’s the final letter I just sent out. You can read and pretend you’re coming along. Here’s the letter:
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. – Neale Donald Walsch
Dear Peru travelers, I’m sitting in my office chair this morning, going though all my teaching files thinking about what I want to teach you. I’m preparing your handouts, looking at poems, readings, prompts and class ideas. This means we’re getting close. And my suitcase is 3/4 packed. I know you that you are probably all where I am—freaking out about how much you ... [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

Arrival

October 15, 2017 By Laura Davis No Comments - Read & Respond

A two hour drive to San Francisco, a flight to Mexico City, a overnight flight to Lima and a morning flight to Cusco and an hour and half drive into the magic of the Sacred Valley—and we’re here!

Today is a day of rest and getting acquainted with this retreat center. Tomorrow Brenda, our True Nature Guide arrives so we can get to know each other and plan the next couple of weeks. Before she gets here, in the morning, Karyn and I are going to have a sound healing therapy session with Gonzalo, Go for short, one of the managers here, who gave us our initial tour of Sach’a Munay. Go just happens to also be a sound healing therapist and I’m such an auditory person I thought, why not? My favorite masseuse at home, my friend Evelyn Hall, has gongs out in her ... [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

The Singing Bowls

October 16, 2017 By Laura Davis 1 Comment - Read & Respond

This morning before breakfast, Gonzalo led me into the main yoga studio where Karyn will be teaching morning yoga and I will be holding our writing circles. The space is round like a giant yurt, but is called a molloka. I set my things in the corner and sat on the striped mat Gonzalo set out for me. In the front of the molloka was an array of instruments—gongs, singing bowls, digeridos, drums, and others I didn’t recognize and couldn’t name. Gonzalo asked if I had any intention for the healing session. I said I wanted to release the folks from the last retreat—and the last retreat—and to open myself to these mountains and this terrain and the spirit of this Sacred Valley so I can best be of service to the next group, arriving just a few days from now. Gonzalo asked if he could place ... [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

A Walk in the Neighborhood

October 16, 2017 By Laura Davis 1 Comment - Read & Respond

It was time to get a little exercise and test my lungs and legs this afternoon at 9000 feet and so I braved a tiny drizzle in my hiking sneakers, a pair of jeans, a scarf, a sweater and a light raincoat. I focused on all the textures I saw along the way because I don’t know enough yet to understand what I’m seeing. Come on a tour of my neighborhood with me! I took this picture to orient myself to the turn back to Sach’a Munay. Turn left here and I’m home! I always love exploring the local cemetery. A lovely example of the brickwork you see everywhere. A little market? It was closed. I was tempted by this aluminum gate but a couple of barking dogs quickly convinced me otherwise. Unfortunately, the influence of first world junk ... [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

This is How a Writer Goes for a Walk

October 16, 2017 By Laura Davis 6 Comments · · · · · · Read & Respond

Yesterday I went on a morning walk through the neighborhood around Sach’a Munay and I shared it here with you through photos of my journey. This morning, I decided to head out in the same direction, but this time I wanted to take the walk as a writer. This is one of the first skills I’ll be teaching my students when they arrive here on Wednesday—how to walk through the world as a writer, rather than just as a garden variety tourist. The first step in traveling as a writer is to go out alone (or if you go out with a partner, to go in silence and to not stick too closely together) and to bring a small hand-size notebook. These notebooks are the very first gift I give my writing students on the first day of any Write, Travel, Transform trip. They’re back pocket size, purse size, ... [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

Stills From Our Waterfall Hike

October 17, 2017 By Laura Davis 2 Comments · · · · · · Read & Respond

Two days in and we’re getting over our altitude adjustment. What a beautiful hike and we had perfect hiking weather. The hard part. The path back to dinner at Sach’a Munay. ... [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

All is in Readiness

October 17, 2017 By Laura Davis 2 Comments · · · · · · Read & Respond

Brenda and Karyn and I, and the phenomenal staff at Sach’a Munay, spent the entire day on last minute preparations for our guests who arrive tomorrow. We’ve gone over room assignments, menu plans, and the arrangements needed for each day of our itinerary. We’ve tweaked here and tweaked there. I watched the writing room come into being before my eyes. The malloka that will be our yoga room has been swept and mopped. The yoga props have been stacked in neat piles. Each bedroom has been cleaned and refreshed.

This is a remarkable center and we are being blessed by incredible Peruvian hospitality and generosity. Gonzalo and Isidora, the managers have gone over our every need. Sadith, the facilities manager, who wears awesome black boots and a welcome ... [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

What I Love About Eco-Lodges

October 17, 2017 By Laura Davis 2 Comments · · · · · · Read & Respond

What I love about staying in eco-lodges—and I do stay in them as much as I can in my travels—is the relationship the lodge has with the extended community. Late this afternoon, when we went into the yoga room to see if it was all clean, we could see that the floor still needed to be swept and mopped. Then we noticed in the corner (although there really is no corner in that sacred room—it’s round) a small pile of boxing gloves. We didn’t know why they were there, and without thinking anymore about it, we went off to yet another delicious dinner. It was just the two of us in the big dining room.

After dinner, Karyn and I stayed in the dining room—just the two of us—and decided to wind down for the evening with another installment of our endless game of ... [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

A Beautiful Start to Our First Official Day

October 18, 2017 By Laura Davis 8 Comments · · · · · · Read & Respond

This morning at 7:00, before breakfast and before we take off for the airport to meet our 18 travelers, Karyn offered her first early morning yoga class to me and Brenda and any of the Sach’a Munay staff who wanted to attend. I don’t usually go to yoga class, Karyn’s or anyone else’s, but I wanted to support her, and I knew yoga would feel good and that it would help me get grounded for the long day ahead. I headed over to the malloka at five minutes to seven, wearing my black Goddesswear pants, a turquoise smart wool shirt and my light grey sweater. When I walked into the studio, Karyn had already set up half a dozen mats, with bolsters, belts and blocks. Within a few minutes her first yoga ... [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

Next Page »

More Featured Students?

For years, I’ve been showcasing the work of one of my students in my monthly newsletter and here on my site. If you’d like to see a complete list of the students I’ve published, with links to their work, you can find it in the Featured Student Archives. Just click the link below.

Featured Students

What is the The Writer’s Journey Roadmap?

I send out inspiring quotes and provocative writing prompts via email Tuesday. You can collect them for their own use—or you can post your writing online and enter into dialogue and conversation with a very supportive group of writers who have made this part of their weekly writing practice.

I invite you to become part of my brilliant, supportive, intimate, honest, inspiring free online community.

I hope to see you up on the Roadmap soon!

First time visitor? Click here to learn about our community.

Like this Virtual Vacation?

You can also read about Laura’s travels to:

Peru 2017

In which Laura and Karyn and 18 writers explore Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of Peru.

Serbia 2017

In which Laura leads a workshop at the Incest Trauma Center.

Greece 2016

In which Laura explores the wonders of Crete and Santorini with a wide-eyed group of Write, Travel, Transform adventurers.

Vietnam 2015/16

In which Laura, who grew up during the Vietnam War, goes to Southeast Asia and finds out what Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are really like today.

Commonweal 2015

A journey toward healing loss and grief in a magnificent Northern California setting.

Scotland 2015

In which Laura returns to Scotland with a new group for another jaunt through the wonders of the Scottish Highlands.

Scotland 2013

In which Laura attends the Edinburgh theatre festival and leads 14 writers to a magical retreat in the highlands of Northern Scotland.

Bali 2013

In which Laura visits Australia, and spends three weeks diving, exploring, and teaching in three regions of Bali.

Florida 2014

A journey into old age in America in which Laura brings her 86-year-old mother to Florida so she can see her last surviving sister one final time.

Mexico 2014

In which Laura attends the San Miguel Writer’s Conference and explores the artistic towns around Patzcuaro.

About Laura Davis

In the course of my career as a communicator, I have also worked as a columnist, talk show host, radio reporter, radio producer, blogger, editor, and speaker. Words have always been at the core of my work and my self-expression. Read More . . .

Photo taken by Jason Ritchey

Tags

adventure Aging Parents Alzheimer’s Bali cancer Commonweal creative writing creativity dementia Ellen Bass emp empty nest entrepreneur featured writers greece Laura's stories Laura's wisdom marketing memoir mexico Mother-Daughter parenting teenagers poetry reconciliation retreats sandwich generation Scotland spirituality teaching travel travel adventure Vietnam write travel transform writing practice writing retreat writing tips writing workshop

What People Are Saying About Laura Davis:

[shtmlslider name='shslider_options']

Retreating with Laura: Julie Sheehan

Julie Sheehan

For many years I put off my dream of writing and traveling. I told myself the kids were too little, my husband could never survive without me, that I couldn't possibly be so selfish. I couldn't imagine realistically stepping out of all of my responsibilities and roles. Then I started attending Laura’s summer retreat at Commonweal in northern California and that became an annual gift to myself for the next three years.

When the opportunity to travel with Laura internationally came up, my Land of Later mentality said I could never pull it off. But when my friend got cancer at age 39, I decided to stop taking life and it's endless opportunities to grow, live, nurture and explore myself for granted.

My children were 6 and 9 when I began allowing myself the luxurious pleasure of taking 10 days to two weeks each year to travel abroad with Laura, to spend time with like minded, soul searching people who share a passion for living and writing, to have all my meals prepared for me, to have the space and freedom to stretch out of my cage and check in with who I am, what I want, and how best to get there.

Laura is a skilled and nurturing teacher who encourages her students to take risks, to grow as human beings, and to be vulnerable. She has provided me with a forum where I can gain all my CEUs and learn techniques on how to become a more engaging writer, all while completing yearly emotional rehab.

I return home from each of Laura’s trip a little wiser, a little more open, and a lot more compassionate. I greet my family, friends and daily life with sparkly, clean energy and a renewed patience, brought about by way of re-writing old stories that I needed to let go of. I come home ready to move forward in my life.

A retreat with Laura Davis is one of the best gifts I ever received and gave myself. It took many years to realize that I was worth the time and financial investment, but now there is no looking back.

Julie Sheehan, Livermore California

Recent Comments

  • June Radicchi on Finding Joy
  • Mary Latela on Finding Joy
  • Amy Feld on What’s in Front of Me
  • Pennie on What I Can’t Do
  • Susan on The Rooster

Recent Posts

Writing Through the Pandemic: January 26, Number 3

Who I am becoming. You can share your response to this prompt below. ... [Continue Reading]

Other Posts:

  • Writing Through the Pandemic: January 26, Number 2
  • Writing Through the Pandemic: January 26, Number 1
  • Finding Joy

Writing Retreats

Whether you are a beginner, an established writer, a published author, or are looking for a creative vacation with your spouse…I have a retreat for you.

Read more . . .

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 Laura Davis